The WWE Championship is widely recognized as the most historic championship in sports-entertainment. Dating back to 1963, the WWE Championship was first awarded to Buddy Rogers after he defeated Antonino Rocca in the finals of a tournament in April.
BUDDY ROGERSDEFEATED: Antonino Rocca
WHERE: Rio de Janeiro
WHEN: 04-29-63
The original “Nature Boy”, Buddy Rogers, won the first-ever WWE Championship in a tournament in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, last defeating Antonino Rocca. The WWE Hall of Famer was one of the most hated Superstars of his time, but he used his patented Figure Four Leglock to torture opponents and become the first-ever WWE Champion.
BRUNO SAMMARTINODEFEATED: Buddy Rogers
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 05-17-63
Bruno Sammartino faced off against the hated Buddy Rogers at Madison Square Garden. Sammartino used a dropkick, backbreaker and a crushing bearhug to dethrone the champ. Sammartino would go on to defend his WWE Championship for an unprecedented eight years, which is a record that still stands today.
IVAN KOLOFFDEFEATED: Bruno Sammartino
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 01-18-71
Managed by Captain Lou Albano, the “Russian Bear” Ivan Koloff got a shot at Bruno Sammartino’s WWE Championship at Madison Square Garden, the same place that Sammartino won the title almost eight years prior. Both Superstars were masters of the bearhug, but it was a knee drop from the top rope that gave Koloff the win. Although Koloff dethroned a champion that had held the Championship for nearly eight years, he would not be so lucky. Koloff’s reign only lasted about three weeks.
PEDRO MORALESDEFEATED: Ivan Koloff
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 02-08-71
WWE Hall of Famer Pedro Morales was loved by fans everywhere, so it was only fitting that he become the man to defeat The Russian Bear, Ivan Koloff for the WWE Championship. Morales pinned Koloff at Madison Square Garden. Morales would also go on to become the first Triple Crown winner in WWE history as he would also win the Intercontinental Championship and World Tag Team Championship.
STAN STASIAKDEFEATED: Pedro Morales
WHERE: Philadelphia, PA
WHEN: 12-01-73
Pedro Morales proved to be his own worst enemy in his WWE Championship defense against Stan “The Man” Stasiak. Morales delivered a back suplex to Stasiak that went right into a pinning combination. Stasiak was able to get his arm up, while both of Morales’ shoulders were on the mat. When the ref counted three, much to Morales’ dismay, Stasiak’s title reign began.
BRUNO SAMMARTINODEFEATED: Stan Stasiak
WHERE: New York, NY
WHEN: 12-10-73
Source: http://www.wwe.com
-- BoneDaddy
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